VFP7pass short to an ext. method

I am writing code behind a command button on a Visual Fox 7.0 form.

I am calling methods from an ActiveX control on my for as follows:
objPresort = CREATEOBJECT("PresortAgent.PresortAgentCtrl.1")
@tableAlias = ALIAS()
nSortOption = -1
recordCount =100
nResult = objPresort.BeginPresortProcessing(@tableAlias, recordCount , @nSortOption)

The definition for this Method is BeginPresortProcessing(string by reference, long by value , short by reference)

Everytime I try to call this I get a type mismatch becaus eVFP is converting my nSortOption to a different type of variable.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can force this to a Short or an Integer???

Thanks!!